George Bernard Shaw Quotes

No man pleases by silence; many I please by speaking briefly.

I strive to be brief but I become obscure.

If you really understand something, you can say it in the fewest words, instead of thrashing about.

I don't talk in sound bites.

It is not sufficient to know what one ought to say, but one must also know how to say it.

The perfection of style consists in the use of the exact speech necessary to convey the sense in the fewest words consistent with perspicuity, at the same time having regard to appropriateness and harmony of expression. Its greater excellencies are directness, accuracy, appropriateness and perspicuity.

Nothing like a little judicious levity.

I love songs because by nature they are concise; they sum up. I try to use as few words as possible. It's usually funnier that way, anyway.

The problem with having a sense of humor is often that people you use it on aren't in a very good mood.

I've always found it easier to be funny than to be serious.

Genuine good taste consists in saying much in few words, in choosing among our thoughts, in having order and arrangement in what we say, and in speaking with composure.

To be brief is almost a condition of being inspired.

Drawing on my fine command of the English language, I said nothing.

You don't need many words if you already know what you're talking about.

Caution: These verses may be hazardous to your solemnity.

Writing is learning to say nothing, more cleverly each day.

False eloquence is exaggeration; true eloquence is emphasis.

A pin has as much head as some authors and a good deal more point.

They place great stress on the clarity of our language for expressing nuances and showing subtleties.

It would be terribly boring to be earnest.

Easy reading is damn hard writing.

I find myself to be quite sarcastic, and I wouldn't want to be with someone who didn't get that.

Humour is a great vehicle for getting a message across. If you get too serious, you could die of starch.

I am not a sound bite person. I prefer to run at the mouth.

You could say that when you introduce humour to your work, you also step back a little from it. You create a distance.